Bluetooth problems have a knack for being frustratingly vague. They can manifest in various ways, such as earbuds displaying as connected but refusing to play any music, a car playing music just fine but not accepting calls, or a wearable dropping out for no apparent reason.

Google’s Troubleshooting Solution

Fortunately, Google has provided Pixel owners with a useful tool to help diagnose and troubleshoot these Bluetooth issues. The feature, called Bluetooth Diagnostics, can be found in the Settings app under the ‘Connected devices’ section.

Bluetooth Diagnostics is designed to test a problematic accessory before resorting to factory resetting or rebooting everything. This feature is particularly useful for Pixel 6 and newer models, including Fold devices.

What Does Bluetooth Diagnostics Check?

A Bluetooth link can fail in various ways, making it challenging to identify the root cause of the problem. For instance, music might work but calls may not, or the phone may be able to see the car but Android Auto still won’t cooperate.

Bluetooth Diagnostics helps to narrow down the issue by running tests for media audio, calls, and other problems. The media test plays a sound and asks if you can hear it, while the connections to vehicles test the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities.

It’s worth noting that Bluetooth handles the initial connection and hands-free calls, while Wi-Fi carries most of the data. This means that even if Bluetooth is working fine, Android Auto might still throw a fit due to Wi-Fi issues.

How to Use Bluetooth Diagnostics

To access Bluetooth Diagnostics, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app
• Tap ‘Connected devices’
• Open ‘Bluetooth diagnostics’
• Choose the accessory and follow the on-screen tests

The process is relatively straightforward, and the feature provides a better understanding of where the failure lies. However, it’s essential to note that Bluetooth Diagnostics cannot repair a dead earbud, fix dodgy accessory firmware, or persuade incompatible hardware to suddenly become friends.

What Else Can You Do?

While Bluetooth Diagnostics is a useful tool, it’s still essential to follow the familiar fixes when necessary. These include toggling Bluetooth, checking that devices are paired, restarting them, and forgetting an accessory before pairing it again. If a speaker is the problem, pairing failures, interference, and other common Bluetooth speaker problems are worth ruling out before reaching for the factory-reset button.

Privacy Considerations

If you decide to share device and Bluetooth diagnostics with Google, the company states that the information can include accessory details, connection-test results, and hardware status. An optional bug report can contain a Bluetooth HCI snoop log with interaction data such as device names, MAC addresses, and LE Audio reports.

It’s crucial to weigh the benefits of using Bluetooth Diagnostics against the potential risks of sharing sensitive information with Google.